August, 2003
An Israeli jeep was perched on the hill overlooking the checkpoint, it's search light periodically shining on the masses.
Ihe Israeli Ministry of Interior for Arab Jerusalemites, resembling a prison even more when closed than when swallowed up in masses of waiting people.
She was eager to share horror stories of trying over the years to get permissions for her kids to leave (although they are Belgian citizens, they are also Palestinian, and are treated by the IDF as such) and then her own visa to return (she's never been granted a Palestinian ID even though she's been married for many years).
Today we worked at our assigned volunteer activities at Star Mountain, Elizabeth cleaning cabins and doing remedial landscaping; Marthame assisting with webdesign for the institution.
The Syndicate of Palestinian Journalists had organized a memorial march for Mazen Da'na, a Reuters cameraman and the second Palestinian journalist to be killed by US forces occupying Iraq. According to the official US account, a soldier mistook the Da'na's camera for a grenade launcher. It was to be the award-winning cameraman's last day in Baghdad.
Our driver, who is from Zababdeh, had gotten a fake ID to cross that very checkpoint; like the rest of the population, without special permission, he is not allowed to travel out of his home district (but allowed to return to it). So he got an ID listing his home district as on the other side of the checkpoint (hence allowing him to cross it); on the way back, his Zababdeh ID would do the trick. But not today.
What was yesterday's headline? "Israel agrees to ease Palestinian daily conditions." We have yet to see it.
Some of the students in our program have been working with the Birzeit student activities committee to prepare an event together at the end of our term.
Their logic is similar to that of the Israeli army - we are in a state of truce, but that doesn't prevent us from engaging in incursions and assassinations. Hamas is also holding to the truce, but that doesn't prevent them from carrying out retaliatory suicide bombings.
The summer semester is winding down, with only this week to go, so we are trying to get the most out of the last few days.
The Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions (ICAHD) work camp is constructing a Peace Center on the site of the Shawamreh Family home which has been demolished four times. A large group of internationals and Israelis were there, working with Palestinians on the site, which was impressive for only two days of construction.
In many cases, it's simply a case of squatters taking over other people's homes. They are then protected by the Israeli government.
Since Oslo began, the number of settlers and the size of their settlements increased twofold, and only 18% of the Occupied Territories came under Palestinian control. For people who expected a viable state in the 1967 borders by 1998, the real results of Oslo were meager and frustrating.
Our good friend and fellow Birzeit "alum" from two years ago, is taking some vacation days from his job in London and visiting Israel and Palestine.
At this point, his application is in DC ( the final scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark comes to mind). The Consulate in Jerusalem can do nothing at this point except wait.
At the facility, Barbara could hear the police discussing her, proposing that she was working with Hamas, collecting information for terrorist activities. Barbara spoke up in her defense, asserting her innocence. Astonished that she knew Hebrew, the police turned to questioning her, a process which wore on and on, and which took decidedly harassing turns (you have a boyfriend? how do you make love to him?).
Qalqilya, where the Wall first originated. Particularly there, the situation could more appropriately be described a prison. High concrete walls, guard towers placed all along. In order to include nearby settlements on the Israeli "side," Qalqilya has been isolated such that it has one entry gate coming and going. It is already estimated that one fourth of the city's population has left - voluntary transfer at work.
"If they want a wall, fine," he said. "But put it on the border, and don't steal our land to build it."
The discussion mainly focused on present relations between Christians and Muslims, as well as some history lessons on the Christian presence - particularly under Ottoman rule. There was general agreement that the situation for Christians improved with the arrival of the British as well as under Jordanian rule in the West Bank, but under Israeli rule/Occupation the situation has been unbearable for Christians and Muslims alike.
We headed into town to meet up with friends from Birzeit and AAUJ . An enjoyable evening was spent relaxing by the pool, playing guitar, and singing.